Both Art and DT for GCSEs?

[sunsout]

My dd is only in year 7. However she s expressed a strong interest in taking GCSEs in both Art and DT her most enjoyed subjects. She was told by some older peers that one can only do either Art or DT. I will check with the school to see if this is true and the reason for it. May be to do with timetables. However just want to ask if any one's dc has done both subjects together in the past or at present? Are both subjects very time consuming? Teachers, what do you think? Of course I wish she can do the subjects that she enjoys and will help further her either A levels or Btec studies choices after ks3.

[kilmuir]

yes my DD is year 11 and doing both. Very time consuming but she loves it. quite a lot of her friends are doing both

[Leeds2]

DD didn't do either, but had friends who did both. They are extremely time consuming subjects, and Art seemed to me to require more work than any other subject. I suspect DT is equally time consuming.

One plus point for Art though was that it finished early, before the main exam period started, so that those who had done it had one less subject to worry about at that time.

[Maddaddam]

My dd1, yr10, is doing both Art and DT (graphics). Her other GCSEs are all the traditional academic ones but she loves Art and DT and they are her strongest subjects. She's 2 terms in and well ahead with the coursework in these subjects, she is much more motivated in these subjects than in her other subjects though, and more than most of her peers. E.g. she chooses to go to extra 2hr Art class after school once a week, and she gets on with coursework there. So she is well ahead of target.

So it depends on your dc, my dd1 spends a lot of her free time doing art/craft/dt activities, goes to several clubs oriented around these activities, so Art and DT GCSEs are really just picking up on what she would do with her free time anyway.

[weegiemum]

Slightly different as in Scotland. My dd1 is doing both Art and D&M (Design and Manufacture) - the more practical end of Graphics, and loves them both. Mainly as shes the best at D&M, better than all the boys in her class!!

Again, a lot of work but as she's got her heart set on an arty future, she actually doesnt see it as work at all half the time.

[gymboywalton]

not allowed at my children's school as it doesn't give them a broad enough curriiculum. one or the other.

so they wouldn't allow music AND drama either i don't think

[youngestisapyscho]

My daughter is in yr8 and has just picked her GCSE options to start in Yr9. They have brought the whole process forward a year and changed the way the options are picked. They can also do a one yr course in each of year 9,10 &11... so this adds 3 courses for them. She could do Art and Dt this way.

[IreneA78]

not allowed at my children's school as it doesn't give them a broad enough curriculum
really?
I can't see how art and say systems and control would have that much in common.
I think the problem is that they are very time consuming at a time when you are supposed to be revising and doing practice papers.

[mummytime]

You will have to wait and see (because your Ds school may change their policy, or even make a special case if she is gifted/determined enough).

However DT and Art are both very time demanding subjects, with a lot of coursework (Portfolio's for Art).

But year 7 is very young and she has lots of time to change her mind.

[Lottie4]

My DD goes to a fairly large school and there were no restrictions on their choices this year. She had three art subjects to choose from (fine art, graphics and art textiles) and I think there were six DT options to choose from. Both departments in my DD's school stay open for them at lunchtime (with staff available), so they do some of their homework then.

[sunsout]

Mummtime, I am thinking if I and more parents make the enquiry earlier it may make the school consider earlier. Just a simple thought.

[sunsout]

Lottie, how many children does your school take in in year 7? 300?

[ErrolTheDragon]

Quite a lot of DD's schoolmates do Art and DT (either electronics or product design). It depends to some extent how many GCSEs they can do and how many of those are optional - or if the school operates restrictive 'option blocks'. They do both involve a lot of coursework - Art is notorious for it (but I've got a niece who did it as an extra 'in her spare time'!), my DD put a heck of a lot of hours into her electronics project. But if the pupil loves the subject (and depending on what else they do) then it's doable.